Light bulb changes: CFLs vs. LEDs

For 130 years, the incandescent light bulb dominated the home lighting industry.

Now, the light bulb may be going the way of steam engines and roll film, also invented in the 1880s.

More energy-efficient light bulbs, including compact fluorescent bulbs and bulbs illuminated by light emitting diodes, are pushing aside the incandescent bulb. The Energy Independence and Security Act, signed into law in 2007 by President George W. Bush, annually increases the energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs. By 2020, lights bulbs need to be 70 percent more efficient than today's bulbs.

But the legislation is not the death knell for the incandescent bulb, said Marc Pittarelli, vice president of sales for City Electric Co. Inc, 514 W. Genesee St.

Manufacturers have developed incandescent lamps that meet the standards, he said. And while those bulbs are now more expensive than their less efficient predecessors, their price will come down to a level close to what exists now, he said.

The leading contenders challenging incandescent bulbs are the spiral-shaped CFLs that came along in the 1980s, and LEDs.

In its October issue, Consumer Reports says its latest tests show that LEDs outshine CFLs, now used by about 75 percent of Americans.

LEDs use less energy, brighten instantly and are not affected by frequently turning them off and on.

The catch: LEDS are very expensive.

Those tested by Consumer Reports cost $25 to $60, compared to $3 to $6 for CFLs.

"People come to me all the time and say, 'I want to do a new house with LEDs.' It's very expensive to do a house," said Paul Russo of Paul Russo Lighting Consultant, 625 E. Willow St.

Russo recently designed LED lighting for a new house being built in Oswego. The cost of materials: $18,000.

Pittarelli said he recently sold 200 fixtures of LED recessed lighting for an area house for $50,000.

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While LEDs are good technology, "It's not there yet," Russo said. Many LEDs aren't made in America and can be unreliable, he said.

Consumer Reports also found problems with LEDs.

"Not all LEDs are good," the agency said in a news release. "Our tests also found dim bulbs, ghastly light color and LEDs that can't cast light in all directions."

The agency recommended sticking with Energy Star qualified LEDs.

In the long run, LEDs will save consumers about $130 over their 20-year lifespan, while switching to CFLs will save consumers around $60 in energy costs over incandescent bulbs, the consumer agency said.

While LEDs have a higher upfront cost, "If you look at the financials over the life of the lamp, it makes sense to purchase them," Pittarelli said, especially for commercial uses.

"The pricing is coming down and quality and efficacy are going up," he said.

Depending on the lamp, an LED bulb will last between 25,000 and 45,000 hours. A standard incandescent will last 1,000 to 2,000 hours and a CFL bulb will last 10,000 to 12,000 hours, he said.

Light color is measured in kelvins, Russo said. The higher the number, the cooler the color, or bluer the light appears. If you like the warm yellow light of incandescent bulbs, look for bulbs marked 2800K, he said. At 3000 K, the light is whiter, like a halogen bulb, Consumer Reports said. At 3500 to 4100 K, the light will be cool, bright white. At 5000 to 6500 K, the light will be bluer.

Pittarelli said a better measure is the color rendering index, where a score of 100 is based on the warm yellow of an incandescent bulb.

"Some earlier versions of the CFL had a yellow cast and could make a brown couch look green," he said. But CFL bulbs have steadily improved and can reach a color rendering of 80, compared to 60 when they first started.

LED color renderings are also steadily improving, he said.

The lumen output of an LED light source "will be drastically improved in the next year to way outperform the traditional sources," he said.

The consumer agency also recommends looking at lumens when buying CFLs or LED bulbs. The higher the number, the brighter the bulb. To replace a 60-watt incandescent bulb, look for 800 lumens; 1,100 lumens or more for a 75-watt replacement and at least 1,600 lumens for a 100-watt bulb.

And the search for a better light source continues.

Pittarelli said researchers have developed a luminescent organic film, which is being used to create digital displays. The next step is to use it as a light source, he said.